Old Hough Fisheries - Big Max
Saturday 11th April 2015
As I approached the latest match in Pem Centrals calendar, there was a high expectation of a good day on the cards. We had started to see some improved weather over the Easter weekend that had continued into the week, catch reports at the fishery, and at many others, were showing signs that the fish were finally on the move and I was going into the match with a win under my belt from the previous match. All ingredients for a good day on the bank. So......it was probably quite predictable that as the weekend approached the warm settled weather we had was due to make way for overnight rains, lower temperatures and increased winds. Very typical.
Not to be down hearted, I went into the match with optimism. After stopping by the butty van in Middlewich for a tasty barm and a good chat, the lads made our way to the fishery. By the time we were doing the draw, the rain had all but stopped and we were left with just the strong winds which seemed to be coming across us regardless of where we were pegged. My draw put me on fishery peg 4. On this peg I had the corner of the island to in front of me as well as an empty corner to my left with an aerator.
In a bid to keep things simple, I decided that I would fish this match with a 2 line approach. I set up a banjo feeder to fish to the island, and also give me the option to cast to my left near the aerator; I had softened micros for the feeder with various pellets and bandums for the hook. The other line was a long pole line at 14.5 metres were I would feed softened 4mm pellets and corn with pellet and corn options for the hook.
To give me a back up, I also plumbed a margin line but based on pre-match advice, this was only there as a back-up and I had no real intention of devoting much time to it.
At the all-in, I fed a pot of corn and pellets on the 14.5m pole line and then picked up the feeder rod and cast to the island. With the wind coming across from my right, I found casting accurately quite difficult but was just about managing to cast to the island. I stuck on this for approx half an hour but with no bites, not even any liners giving away the presence of fish, I decided it was worth trying the pole. I shipped out to the 14.5 metres but after only a short period of time I realised that this was going to be too difficult a fight against the wind so I was soon picking the feeder rod up again. The pole would have to wait and see if the wind dropped.
This time however, rather than casting to the island I turned to my left and cast towards the aerator in the empty corner of the lake. Landing just off the right hand corner of the aerator, casting was notably easier in this direction with the wind now coming from behind me. After a short wait the tip shot round and I was soon playing my first fish of the day which was a nice carp of around 2-3lb. The switch to the aerator line appeared to be a good move as I steadily caught a number of fish from this line over the next 90 mins and I was feeling confident that I was beating most people I could see at this point, only the guys on the far bank from me were unknown at this point. At around the midway point in the match this line started to slow so to give it a rest, I decided to plumb an extra pole line short at around 5 metres. I fed this the same as the long pole line and went back onto the tip. Despite having a couple of smaller fish from this line it was still noticeably slower than before so I took a look on the short pole line. Presentation was much easier on this line but after 10 or 15 mins with no signs, I felt it was not going to be a day for the pole and decided if I had to sit out for bites, I would do so on the feeder. What happened next however changed the whole outlook of the match for me as this time, I decided that I would try a cast to the island again as Paul to my right and Frank to his right had picked up a couple of fish on this line. Despite using the same clip that I had set up with, my first cast back on this line saw me land on the island and subsequently snagged. Despite my best efforts, I couldn't free myself from the snag and had to pull for a break. At this point my head went and despite setting the tip rod back up again and getting back out to the aerator line, I couldn't settle myself back down and felt this affected me for the remainder of the match. I did manage a couple of extra F1s to the net but at the all-out I couldn't help but feel I had wasted an opportunity for a second match win.
As the scales went round, it was obvious that the day had been tough for all. The bank to my left, which was pegs 33 to 28 had produced only 2 weights over 20lb, with Mark Anglesea leading the way on 25lb 4oz. Turning the corner into the far bank from me Denis Darby set a new top weight with exactly 50lb from peg 22. This proved to be the top weight of the day. Ste Green and Dave Benson to the 2nd and 3rd place spots with 29lb 4oz and 28lb from pegs 19 and 12. I was last to weigh in on the day and my total fell just short of 20lb at 19lb 12oz. I was a bit disappointed with this result as I felt the peg was worth double that with aerator feature and the wind blowing into it. It was enough to see me finish 7th out of 15 on he day. I did pick up a section win though so not all lost.
Top 3:
1st: Dennis Darby 50lb
2nd: Ste Green 29lb 4oz
3rd: Dave Benson 28lb
Sections (by default):
Section 1: Mark Anglesea 25lb 4oz
Section 2: Stuart Rourke 19lb 12oz
Honourable mention to George Derbyshire who weighed in 12lb 8oz of small silvers, none of which looked to be over 4oz. Well done George.
A further stag do sees me missing Pems next match, which is at Partridge Lakes, so my next scheduled session will be the 9th May when we head down to Heronbrook. Will have to wait and see if I can manage a sneaky session before that date.
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